Audiences and content makers alike are increasingly interested in stories that address the unpleasant reality of substance misuse and trade.
Candy, Human, or Aranyak, what’s the common thread that binds them all together? It’s the presence of a parallel plotline revolving around the drugs trade, which is quickly catching up in the digital world.
OTT is portraying the dark illusive underbelly of illicit substance trafficking and usage, from fictitious stories about drug addiction to ones that examine the brutal reality of the drug business, in addition to criminal thrillers, frauds, and true stories. And it appears that such performances are striking the appropriate notes.
“People are curious about any industry that is unfamiliar to them or about which they have a voyeuristic want to learn more.” That is why programs like Money Heist, Narcos, and Sacred Games have become worldwide successes. You’re drawn to environments and sectors that pique your interest,” says Ashish R. Shukla, the director of Candy, a film starring Richa Chadha and Ronit Roy.
Drug tales, according to actor Akshay Oberoi, who appeared in the program High, make for compelling viewing because the risks are so high. “It’s an extremely interesting and compelling watch.” Breaking Bad, in particular, shines in this regard. It is for this reason why it is so popular. While it has always had a fan base, we have only lately begun producing similar material in India, which is quite exciting to watch,” he says.
While such shows may keep viewers on the edge of their seats, producers believe that digging deep into the realm of drugs to represent this subject on TV is nothing short of a difficult task.
“It’s not a pleasurable experience.” It’s dark, and it has to be handled with caution. However, because it is a fact in our society, it is well worth investigating. “It’s fascinating to investigate the abuse’s socioeconomic consequences,” says Aranyak director Vinay Waikul.
If drugs lubricated Raveena Tandon’s Aranyak’s cogwheels, then drug addiction drove Telugu sports drama Lakshya. It was utilised in Bombay Begums to demonstrate how young people are exposed to illicit narcotics, which Campus Diaries also looks into.
Not to mention the Human series, which stars Shefali Shah and Kirti Kulhari and focuses around drug trials. “It was a sickening discovery to learn that the lowest of the poor are handled like human guinea pigs with little or no concern for their lives.” And we realised that if we were going to present this narrative, we had to expose the horrible facts so that the public could see how wrong it might all go,” says show co-director Mozez Singh.
“It is my obligation not to advocate the use of storytelling as a tool. We strive to demonstrate why it is not cool to use drugs and the consequences that come with it. “How you depict the tale through your perspective is essential,” says screenwriter Charudutt Acharya, who adds that it’s a timely subject because drug misuse has been a major worry in recent years.
